A friend and I spent the night at the junction of the AT and Beech Mountain Road, then hiked up to Whitetop the next morning. The views from the bald were great, although the summit was encased in clouds. Also, there's apparently a bear around that area who's been getting into hung food caches... I thought I heard something running past our campsite in the middle of the night, but by the time I woke up enough to look around, it was gone. Be careful with your food storage if you're backpacking this stretch of the AT!
Sarah Simon - Oct 9, 2017 7:53 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2017
Absolutely worth the side trip
I know that it is so tempting for AT hikers to skip the extra elevation gain and make this side trip. It is definitely worth it. Yes, the very top does not offer views, and is cluttered by communications towers, but come on there are only three 5000 footers in Virginia and this is one of them!
Katy Y - Jul 9, 2016 2:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2016
Sort of.
Okay, didn't exactly climb this to bag the peak, but am bookmarking page as part of the VCT/AT funfest of 2016. Beautiful country.
Hiked this on a section hike of the AT with some teens from my youth group. It was the third day and they were pretty tired and I was wondering if adding this section was worth it. It was. Very windy but very beautiful. Love spending time in God's creation.
jasano2 - Sep 2, 2013 12:01 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2013
Stormy
Good times on Va #2 even with the bad weather we encountered. We hit Whitetop on our way to Damascus via the Appalachian Trail. Lighting storm moved through around a 1000 ft below the summit, but opened up while descending towards Buzzard Rock.
MtMtnHiker - Mar 16, 2011 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Mar 17, 2002
Memorable hike
Was introduced to Whitetop by a good friend I met a couple of years before on the AT.
kteichert - Nov 5, 2010 10:32 am Date Climbed: Nov 4, 2010
Coupled with mount Rogers
Was looking for a place to sleep and planning for mount Rogers the next day. Found this little gem around 3 am.
Bluebell08 - Nov 1, 2010 8:25 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2010
Beautiful views
Drove and then walked up and enjoyed the views. Except for the cell phone towers and construction.
Route Climbed: Auto road up/Appalachian Trail down. Date Climbed: 01-09-2005
I'd been meaning to see this peak for some time. I go to the nearby Grayson Highlands State Park every year, but for some reason had never found the time to scoot over to Whitetop, or hike over Mount Rogers to Whitetop. My wife was still feeling ill from a recent bout with a lung infection, but she wanted to visit that part of Virginia on our weekend off, so we took the forest service road to the summit and I hiked down while my wife drove.
Lots of open country, wide meadows just below the summit, with a nice spruce-fir forest at the top. That entire area from Grayson Highlands down to Damascus is just very pretty and very wild. I highly recommend it for a vacation destination.
BobEnein - Nov 9, 2019 8:31 pm Date Climbed: Nov 9, 2019
Pleasant & enjoyablePleasant, enjoyable hike and not a hard one. If you want a good challenge, try to bag Mt Rogers as well.
technicolorNH - Nov 8, 2019 6:06 pm Date Climbed: Nov 8, 2019
Chilly but clear dayNinety five minutes to the top from 601. Short of the Roan Highlands this was the most open bald I have ever seen.
larvitar - Jul 29, 2018 3:10 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2018
Balds and buzzards and bears, oh my...A friend and I spent the night at the junction of the AT and Beech Mountain Road, then hiked up to Whitetop the next morning. The views from the bald were great, although the summit was encased in clouds. Also, there's apparently a bear around that area who's been getting into hung food caches... I thought I heard something running past our campsite in the middle of the night, but by the time I woke up enough to look around, it was gone. Be careful with your food storage if you're backpacking this stretch of the AT!
Sarah Simon - Oct 9, 2017 7:53 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2017
Absolutely worth the side tripI know that it is so tempting for AT hikers to skip the extra elevation gain and make this side trip. It is definitely worth it. Yes, the very top does not offer views, and is cluttered by communications towers, but come on there are only three 5000 footers in Virginia and this is one of them!
Katy Y - Jul 9, 2016 2:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2016
Sort of.Okay, didn't exactly climb this to bag the peak, but am bookmarking page as part of the VCT/AT funfest of 2016. Beautiful country.
mtsptfam - Apr 29, 2014 3:35 pm Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2009
Worth itHiked this on a section hike of the AT with some teens from my youth group. It was the third day and they were pretty tired and I was wondering if adding this section was worth it. It was. Very windy but very beautiful. Love spending time in God's creation.
jasano2 - Sep 2, 2013 12:01 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2013
StormyGood times on Va #2 even with the bad weather we encountered. We hit Whitetop on our way to Damascus via the Appalachian Trail. Lighting storm moved through around a 1000 ft below the summit, but opened up while descending towards Buzzard Rock.
MtMtnHiker - Mar 16, 2011 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Mar 17, 2002
Memorable hikeWas introduced to Whitetop by a good friend I met a couple of years before on the AT.
kteichert - Nov 5, 2010 10:32 am Date Climbed: Nov 4, 2010
Coupled with mount RogersWas looking for a place to sleep and planning for mount Rogers the next day. Found this little gem around 3 am.
Bluebell08 - Nov 1, 2010 8:25 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2010
Beautiful viewsDrove and then walked up and enjoyed the views. Except for the cell phone towers and construction.
RyanHalsey1 - Feb 3, 2010 9:21 pm
ClimbMany many hikes here. Great in winter.
Hotoven - Jul 11, 2009 12:03 pm Date Climbed: Oct 13, 2008
drive up most the wayDid this in the fall for a great view!
Koonsy - Dec 30, 2008 9:58 am Date Climbed: Dec 26, 2008
Drive upNice views from the summit. cracked my oil pan on a rock on the way up.
BigCountry - Oct 3, 2008 7:08 pm
WhitetopNice drive and easy to summit
big_g - Jun 4, 2006 6:17 pm Date Climbed: Mar 10, 2000
Beautiful day to be hikingAlthough I enjoyed Buzzard Rocks I can't really see them as a separate mountain. I wouldn't have guessed that anyone considered them that. AT nobo.
BobSmith - Jan 10, 2005 8:42 pm
Route Climbed: Auto road up/Appalachian Trail down. Date Climbed: 01-09-2005I'd been meaning to see this peak for some time. I go to the nearby Grayson Highlands State Park every year, but for some reason had never found the time to scoot over to Whitetop, or hike over Mount Rogers to Whitetop. My wife was still feeling ill from a recent bout with a lung infection, but she wanted to visit that part of Virginia on our weekend off, so we took the forest service road to the summit and I hiked down while my wife drove.
Lots of open country, wide meadows just below the summit, with a nice spruce-fir forest at the top. That entire area from Grayson Highlands down to Damascus is just very pretty and very wild. I highly recommend it for a vacation destination.